How to Airbrush Tears and Rips Step by Step

Create the illusion of rips and tears without actually damaging your canvas.

Airbrushing tears and rips is a creative way to make it look like a crazy person has slashed at your canvas. An airbrush is ideal to simulate this three-dimensional effect because it can paint soft and subtle shadowing, creating the illusion of depth. Because the rips will also need to have hard edges, you will use a technique called masking which blocks portions of the canvas that you don't want painted.

Things You'll Need

• Self-adhesive masking film
• Pencil
• Razor blade
• Airbrush and paint
• Small paintbrush

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of self-adhesive masking film onto the canvas. The rest of the painting should be complete, making the rip the final thing that you paint.

2. 

   Notice the difference between the hole and the peeling, tattered edges.

   Sketch the rip onto the film. There will be two parts: the actual hole and the tatters of torn material surrounding it.

3. Cut out the hole and tatters with a razor blade, following your drawn lines. You must cut very carefully to avoid damaging the canvas.

4. Peel the film off of the hole, leaving the tatters and surrounding area covered. Set the hole piece somewhere safe as you will need it again.

5. Airbrush black paint onto the exposed portion of the canvas. If desired you can paint the wall or room behind the canvas, making the hole seem more realistic.

6. Allow the paint to dry. Gently smooth the hole portion of the film back in place, protecting the paint in the hole portion of the rip.

7. Remove the film covering the tattered portion of the rip and set it aside. Paint the exposed canvas an ivory color to match the back side of the canvas.

8. Apply a shadow to the inner edges of the tatters, next to the hole. This will give the impression that the edges of the tatters are standing out from the canvas.

9. Allow the paint to dry, then replace the tattered portions of film. Remove the film surrounding the rip.

10. Lightly airbrush black beneath the tatters, positioned to one side or the other, to simulate a shadow cast by the tatters onto the canvas. As you do this, select the location of a light source and keep your painted shadows opposite. Do not paint these shadows solid or the shadow will look artificial.

11. Allow the paint to dry, then remove all of the film from the canvas. Refine the lines between the hole, tatters and canvas by hand with a small brush if required.

References

• Meta Cafe: How to Airbrush Rips
• "22 Airbrush Lessons for Beginners"; Paasche Airbrush Company